Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to verify whether anthropometric, physiological and neuromuscular factors, as well as training characteristics, could predict cycling performance during maximal incremental and time-to-exhaustion tests. METHODS: Twenty cyclists were evaluated: Anthropometric variables, knee extensor muscle activation and architecture, training history, and training volume were assessed. Second ventilatory threshold (VT<inf>2</inf>), maximal oxygen uptake (VO<inf>2MAX</inf>), and maximal power output (PO<inf>MAX</inf>) were assessed during the incremental test...

BACKGROUND: External and internal training load are used to monitor training effects in volleyball. Occurrence of injuries in volleyball is dependent of training loads and state of fitness but also playing positions and gender. This study aims to investigate the impact of gender and playing positions on injury occurrence among young volleyball players, considering both training loads and fitness levels. METHODS: Conducted from September 2021 to May 2022, this study involved 37 elite young volleyball players, comprising 16 female (176...

BACKGROUND: Physical activity may help prevent the development of adverse health disorders in children. Thus, it is fundamental to assess key physical skills, such as jumping and running, from an early age. Several studies proposed test batteries to evaluate these motor skills in preschoolers, but no research studied their association. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between jump performance, including force production parameters, and sprint performance in preschool children...

BACKGROUND: Traditional resistance training schemes often utilize higher loads for strength gains and lower loads for muscular endurance or hypertrophy. This study aimed to investigate muscular strength adaptations after nine weeks of high- or low-load resistance training. METHODS: Seventeen recreationally-trained male lifters were recruited for this study (age 20.4±2.7 years) and split into high-load (85% 1-RM; N.=8) or low-load (30% 1-RM; N.=9), completing three whole-body training sessions per week for nine weeks...

BACKGROUND: Athletes participating in outdoor sports are in a high-risk category for prolonged sun exposure. This study investigates whether swimmers and beach volleyball athletes adopt appropriate measures to protect their skin from the sun. Sunscreens play a key role in protecting the skin from solar radiation and preventing premature aging. The study assesses the frequency of sunscreen use and the incidence of sunburn among athletes. METHODS: Athletes completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding their sun protection and exposure habits...

BACKGROUND: Change of direction (COD) ability requires higher motor control capacity and helps children improve individual motor skills. Likewise, basic motor competencies (BMC) are relevant during child maturation and may interleave with COD ability. This study aimed to investigate the possible individual determinants between the COD ability and the BMC, cognitive skills, and anthropometrics characteristics in Italian primary school children aged 6 to 11. METHODS: Children of both sexes (N...

BACKGROUND: Circuit training (CT) is an important type of training that can combine different types of exercises in a single form of training. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 16-week CT on physical fitness parameters, pulmonary function, and quality of life in healthy women. METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy women (median age: 37.00 [31.50/39.50] years) were included in the study. CT was applied to the participants for a total of 16 weeks. Participants' body composition with the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis System, knee flexor and extensor muscle strength with the Biodex System-4 Pro, flexibility with the sit-and-reach test, pulmonary function with a spirometer device, and quality of life with Short Form-36 were assessed...

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the equivalence of the muscular fitness (MF) between body fat percentage (BFP) responders (Rs<inf>BFP</inf>) and non-responders (NRs<inf>BFP</inf>) to school-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Adolescents aged 16 (N.=73, 42.5% of males) were identified as Rs<inf>BFP</inf> (N.=45) or NRs<inf>BFP</inf> (N.=28). MF was assessed based on hand strength (HS), abdominal muscle strength (ABS), and leg power (VJ)...

INTRODUCTION: Various tests have been developed to evaluate aerobic fitness and performance of runners. However, a systematic understanding of which methods are more accurate is necessary to provide coaches and the sports sciences community with useful and confident outcomes. This study aims to summarize the evidence regarding the validity, reliability and sensitivity of tests for measuring aerobic fitness and performance in runners of several background of training. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic search was conducted of Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus up to 31st December 2022 according to PRISMA statement guidelines...

This clinical and rehabilitative overview focuses on the return to unrestricted sporting activity, aiming to consolidate the scientific evidence surrounding the structural progression of athletes, particularly footballers, undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). A multidisciplinary approach necessitates a shared language and standardized methodologies. Unfortunately, significant disparities persist in the structural strategies guiding the decision-making process for returning to on-field activities, the latter stages of rehabilitation, and subsequent restoration of technical and tactical football abilities...

BACKGROUND: In javelin, although many previous studies have examined throwing movements that can increase initial velocity, the characteristics of throwing arm movement an elongated implement have not been clarified. The purpose of the present study was to examine the characteristics of the throwing movement of an elongated implement by comparing throwing movement between a javelin and baseball. METHODS: Twelve male javelin throwers were asked to perform a javelin throw (JT) and a baseball long toss (LT) twice...

BACKGROUND: Wheelchair athletes, as a group of elite athletes who participate in high-level sports activities, are constantly exposed to musculoskeletal injuries and disorders due to their frequent use of wheelchairs and overworked upper limbs. In this study, we investigated the effect of elastic band exercises on the extent of athletes' forward head angle, kyphosis, rounded shoulder, and pain scores. METHODS: Twenty-six male and female wheelchair athletes with spinal cord injuries (age: 27...

BACKGROUND: Nutrition knowledge influences adequate dietary intake in athletes. Inadequate dietary intakes can result in low energy availability (LEA) which can lead to relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). To date, there is little information on the relationship between nutrition knowledge and the risk of LEA in female team sport athletes. This study investigates if general and sports nutrition knowledge are associated with the risk of LEA in female team athletes. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used...

BACKGROUND: Energy availability (EA) and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) are understudied in East African endurance athletes, both females (F) and males (M). This study assessed the metabolic hormonal profiles of such athletes relative to their EA status. METHODS: Forty athletes (F=16, M=24) had their EA status, training, maximal oxygen uptake, and resting blood samples assessed using standard research practices. Subjects were stratified into two groups, high EA (HiEA) and low EA (LoEA) based on combined median value...

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is a worldwide chronic disease. The incidence rate of this disease is high, and it is a common disease in clinics. At present, the incidence rate of diabetes patients is increasing year by year due to the increasing work pressure, the accelerated pace of life, the change of diet, the reduction of labor, and the acceleration of aging. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The computer retrieves four databases to obtain random controlled trials on the influence of resistance exercise and aerobic exercise on type 2 diabetes...

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review aimed to analyze the available body of published peer-reviewed studies on the effects of combat sports compared with active/passive control on cognitive function and electrophysiological markers of brain activity in older people. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The studies were searched in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases from deadline to June 2023. The PRISMA, TESTEX, RoB, and GRADE scales assessed the evidence's methodological quality and certainty of evidence...

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BACKGROUND: Many authors consider running to be a protective physical activity (PA) in bone health. However, many studies also show inconsistencies in their results. The objective of the study is to analyze the effect of cumulative loading rate (TCL) on the bone mass of middle-aged runners and non-runners is assessed. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 322 individuals. There were 212 runners (109 male, 103 female) and those were individuals who did >10 km of running per week...

BACKGROUND: The usage of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) leads to severe side effects. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of AAS on the increase in the carotid intima-media thickness which is regarded as predictor of cardiovascular disorders and determine the association of ASS usage to urinary, hepatic, and hematological systems as well as lipid disorders. METHODS: A total of 60 male bodybuilders (30 AAS users with a mean age of 31.2±8...

BACKGROUND: Limited data exists on the influence of menstrual cycle (MC) phase and oral contraceptive (OC) phase on physical performance in endurance-trained females due to poor control regarding MC verification and differentiation. We aimed to evaluate exercise performance and the respiratory response to exercise in three distinct phases of the MC and OC cycle in endurance-trained females. METHODS: Using a prospective cohort study design, we recruited trained females (Vo<inf>2max</inf> 52±4 mL O<inf>2</inf>/min/kg) who were either not using oral contraceptives (NOC) or using monophasic OCs...